Cuba urges US congress to end economic blockade

Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP) urged the U.S. Congress on Friday to put an end to the economic and financial blockade against the island nation.

In a public hearing, Cuba's highest legislative body condemned the economic embargo imposed by Washington on the country almost six decades ago.

"We invite the U.S. Congress to listen to the opinions of the majority in broad sectors of its society, who are advocating an end to the blockade, and thereby finish off this obsolete policy against Cuba," said Yolanda Ferrer, president of the ANPP international relations commission.

The ANPP also invited other countries to "reinforce the international demand" to eliminate this "harmful policy" that contravenes the rights of Cubans and other states.

"We call on parliamentarians from all nations to speak up, encourage and support their respective foreign ministries in support of Cuba's draft resolution at the UN to end the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade," added the lawmaker.

In recent days, several public hearings have been held all over the island nation by different sectors of the country to reject the U.S. embargo and expose the damage caused by this policy in different spheres.

On Oct. 31, Havana will present for the 27th time before the UN General Assembly a non-binding resolution condemning the unilateral policy. Year after year, Cuba receives overwhelming support from the international community.

In 2017, only the United States and Israel opposed the Cuban initiative, while 191 countries condemned Washington's policy towards Cuba.

However, the United States is not obliged to comply with the UN mandate and claims the blockade is a bilateral issue with Cuba which should be resolved between the two nations.

In its annual report to the United Nations, Havana indicated that economic losses caused by the U.S. blockade, which has been reinforced during Donald Trump's administration, totaled over 4.3 billion U.S. dollars between April 2017 and March 2018.